New U.S. youth soccer Player Development Initiatives

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Beginning August 1, 2017, new standards in youth soccer will be implemented across the country. These standards are known as Player Development Initiatives (PDIs). A key component to these PDIs is new standards of play for small-sided games. Here are five things you need to know about the new regulations for youth games.

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In addition to the number of players and varying physical dimensions of fields, small-sided games will also have some different rules. Starting at the U-9 level, games will use build-out lines. A horizontal line drawn from sideline to sideline 14-yards in front of each goal, build-out lines will encourage possession and playing the ball out of the back. When a goalkeeper has the ball in hand or takes a goal kick, the opposing team remains behind the build-out line until the ball is put into play. This line also indicates where offside can be called, as teams cannot be called for offside between the midfield and build-out line. As part of small-sided standards, there will be no offside infraction before the U-9 age group. New rules also ban headers as well as punts and drop kicks from the goalkeeper.

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